WOMENS BASKETBALL

Ohio State 74, Indiana 69

MITCH STACY
ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Jacy Sheldon scored 25 points, Cotie McMahon had 20 points and seven rebounds and No. 8 Ohio State used a second-half surge to upend No. 10 Indiana 74-69 for its nine consecutive win.

The Buckeyes (19-3, 10-1) took off in the third quarter, going on a 16-5 run to finish the frame up by eight points. They led by as many as 14 with 7:32 left in the game.

But a three-minute scoring drought by Ohio State allowed Indiana (18-3, 9-2) to cut the deficit to eight until a 3-pointer from Taylor Thierry at the 3:03 mark put the Buckeyes back on top by 11.

The Hoosiers stayed right in it. Two late 3-pointers by Yarden Garzon kept them in the game, her second one cutting Ohio State’s lead to 70-66 with 28 seconds remaining.

Indiana had to start fouling and free throws by Sheldon and Taylor Thierry sealed it.

Sara Scalia led Indiana with 25 points, and Mackenzie Holmes and Garzon each had 14 points and nine rebounds.

Indiana finished off the first half with a 7-0 run — including five from Chloe Moore-McNeil — to go up 37-32 at the half. Ohio State didn’t play well up until then, getting outscored in the paint 24-12 and outrebounded 23-14.

BIG PICTURE

Indiana: Outshot Ohio State 46.3% to 45% percent in a close game that was within reach until the end.

Ohio State: Sheldon and McMahon were again terrific in leading the Buckeyes, although McMahon fouled out with 3:10 left. Their current winning streak included a 100-92 overtime victory over then-No. 2 Iowa on Jan. 21.

Ohio State athletics press release

February 4, 2024